Former Blue Hens Zach Kerr and Troy Reeder to square off in Super Bowl
WILMINGTON, Del. (BVM) – When the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams take the field at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles for Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13, it will also pit two former Delaware Blue Hens against each other. Bengals defensive tackle Zach Kerr will look to help lead his team to victory over a fellow former Blue Hen, Rams linebacker Troy Reeder. While both will be opponents on the field, they both can appreciate the fact they both made it to this point as their journeys are parallel and equally difficult.
Kerr is the older of the two. The defensive lineman came out of Quince Orchard High School in Maryland as one of the top prospects in the country, ranked No. 55 nationally by Rivals.com and No. 81 by Scout.com, but would go to Fork Union Military Academy for a season before jumping to the college ranks. At that point, Kerr would go to in-state Maryland where he’d play in a backup role over two seasons, prompting his transfer to FCS Delaware.
Once he joined the Blue Hens, Kerr became one of the best defensive linemen in program history. As a junior, Kerr recorded 27 tackles, including 15 solo and 4.5 tackles for loss, while adding a sack, two fumble recoveries and an interception he returned 47 yards for a touchdown helping him earn second team all-Colonial Athletic Association honors. During his senior year, Kerr would bring up his game finishing with 57 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles to earn first team All-Colonial Athletic Association, second team The Sports Network All-American and third team Beyond Sports Network All-American honors.
Despite his strong play, Kerr would go undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. This hasn’t stopped Kerr from making his way in the NFL though, and after signing an undrafted free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts, Kerr has gone on to play eight seasons with the Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and now the Bengals. Over that time, he has played in 95 career games with 16 starts while recording 166 tackles, 9.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Kerr was signed by the Bengals off the Cardinals’ practice squad on Jan. 19, allowing him to join the Super Bowl bound unit.
Reeder had a similar journey to what will also be his first Super Bowl. An in-state standout at Salesianum in Hockessin, Delaware, Reeder was rated as a four-star prospect by ESPN and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Scout.com, and 247Sports.com and was listed among the top 35 linebacker recruits in the nation after helping the team to a state title as a senior.
Congratulations to Troy Reeder '14 and the Los Angeles Rams for winning the NFC Championship game and advancing to Super Bowl LVI! We are proud of your hard work and dedication. Tenui Nec Dimittam pic.twitter.com/GhDH9jL7Bp
— Salesianum School (@Salesianum) January 31, 2022
Reeder would also go to a big Division I program, signing with nearby Penn State. After not playing as a freshman, Reeder would start at outside linebacker in 11 games as a redshirt freshman for the Nittany Lions earning first team Freshman All-Big 10 and second team Freshman All-American honors.
Despite this success, Reeder would make the decision to transfer back to his home state where he’d become one of the best defenders in program history. Over the course of three years with the Blue Hens, Reeder would rack up 283 tackles in three years, the 22nd most in program history. As a redshirt senior in 2018, he piled up 131 tackles, the fifth most in a single season by a Delaware player. That year, he would also be named the Buck Buchanan Award winner, given each year to the best defender at the FCS level.
Like Kerr before him, Reeder would have to prove his worth at the NFL level as an undrafted free agent, but he has far outplayed expectations early in his career. During his three NFL seasons, Reeder has played in all 49 games he’s been eligible for with 25 starts. In those games he has accumulated 212 tackles, 119 solo, with five sacks, eight pass deflections, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. This season has been the best for the former Blue Hen as he played in all 17 regular season games with 10 starts recording a career-high 84 tackles with two sacks and two interceptions. He’s also started all three postseason contests for the Rams this year, recording 13 tackles and a pass deflection.
So proud of our team and this journey we’re on. Wouldn’t want to go to battle with any other group. Thank you to everyone for all the love and support. NOT DONE YET!
— Troy Reeder (@troyreeder9) January 31, 2022
Regardless of which team wins on Super Bowl Sunday, the real winners will be Delaware and the Blue Hens’ faithful. With at least one alumni guaranteed to win their first ring, the Blue Hens will be able to brag about their alumni’s success. Fans should keep their eyes peeled for both Kerr and Reeder on the game’s biggest stage.
